Split with Rutgers-Newark in first games over Spring Break

CLAREMONT, Calif. – After getting rained out on Friday afternoon, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team earned a split with Rutgers University-Newark in the Saturday double header on Arce Field (7-6 win, 8-5 loss). Before the game, CMS founding athletic director and baseball coach, William B. Arce was remembered.

In game one, the Stags out-hit the Scarlet Raiders 14-10 and got the win on a walk-off RBI by sophomore Chase Eller (CMC) in the bottom of the ninth. Rutgers-Newark had scratched two runs in the top of the frame to even the game at six runs apiece, capitalizing on CMS' only error in the game. Then, in the bottom half, Rutgers-Newark pulled in their right fielder to pitch the final inning. Freshmen Deji Andrew (HMC) and Ryan Motter (CMC) got on with singles before Eller smacked a two-out hit up the middle to score Andrew from second.

Five Stags had two-hit games highlighted by senior Jack Witte (CMC) leading off the first inning with a solo shot to right field. CMS put together a big inning in the fifth, kick-started by Eller, Witte and Evan Opperman (CMC) back-to-back-to-back extra base hits. Another hit by MacKenzie Menthen (CMC) was good for an RBI and then pitching woes by the Raiders brought across one more for the Stags for four in the inning.

The second game saw two pitchers working efficiently through six innings. CMS starter Sam Baughman (CMC) scattered six hits during that time, only allowing one run while the Scarlet Raiders' starter Mike Zibrin held the Stags to three hits.

Rutgers-Newark put up a crooked number in the top of the seventh as CMS struggled to get outs and changed pitchers.

Unphased by being down 5-0, CMS put up two runs in the bottom of the seventh, led by sophomore Trey Smith's (CMC) aggressive base running. Smith led off with a walk and subsequently stole second base and then scored on a receiving error by the first baseman. Two more errors later, Motter came across the plate for another run.

In a contentious top of the eighth, the Scarlet Raiders tallied three more runs to take the 8-2 lead. Sophomore Nolan Anderson (CMC) legged out a double to get the Stags going in the bottom of the eighth and then Nick DeGallier (CMC) and Alex Clemens (CMC) came through with RBI hits.

Freshman Mitchell Allan (CMC) came in and struck out the side in the top of the ninth as the pitcher and then roped a one-out double to left center, breathing life into the Stags' offense in the bottom of the inning as the sun went down. DeGallier earned his second RBI on the day to score Witte from third.

Rutgers-Newark's speed constantly put pressure on the Stags' pitchers. The Raiders stole nine bases compared to CMS' three, all by Smith. Ryan MacFarlane had five hits on the day and contributed four RBI, all in game one. Game two starter Zibrin faced 29 CMS batters and only walked two.

Defensively, Smith ended up with nine catches out in left field over both games and the Stags only committed two errors, the fewest in any double header this season.

With the split, CMS improves to 4-12 and will continue play over Spring Break with single games on March 14 and 15 at 2 p.m. against Ithaca (2-3) from New York.

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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